the leaders of eight south american countries that share the amazon, have gathered in the city of belem. the summit�*s host — brazilian president lula da silva — has urged leaders to agree on common policies to protect the environment and boost sustainable development. scientists are concerned that, deforestation in the amazon may be approaching an irreversible tipping point. president lula — is hoping for a co—ordinated regional approach, to tackle illegal mining and logging — as well as other environmental crimes. he's promised to end deforestation in brazil — by 2030. our south america correspondent katy watson reports from para, the most deforested state in brazil. virgin forest still exists here in the amazon, but every day the illegal loggers get closer. from up high you can see the damage done, the large patches of land totally cleared. this part of brazil has the highest rate of deforestation in the country. president lula has promised to fix the problem, telling the bbc that this summit would be a game changers. the world needs to look at the meeting here in belem is a milestone, the most important ever held to discuss the climate issue so it's a great opportunity for us to show the people of the world what we want to do. we have returned to govern brazil to try and make a difference. for those living under the rainforest canopy, like hobson, it's been a difficult few years. translation: you have no idea how much pressure - there was in our community under the bolsonaro government. landowners circling planes, soya farmers wanting to buy the land to deforest it. but hobson and his trees stood firm. he is growing sustainable crops instead. he's buying into a booming carbon credit industry, taking part in sustainable farming projects that sell carbon credits to companies wanting to offset their emissions. but not everyone is convinced. bianca and herfamily, like many in the region, want better services like schools and health centers. but they are suspicious of carbon credit card companies offering to help them. translation: it is not that transparent. - we cannot see how it would give us a secure life. we are always on the back foot and fear the consequences. because of the stories we heard, we decided not to sign a contract. how to ensure the future of the amazon improve the lives of the more than 30,000 people is the biggest challenge facing the group of leaders in belem. just to get to this part of the amazon, it took 13 hours overnight on a riverboat and now this smaller boat to get to the communities here. but if you look on a map, it all looks so close together and itjust goes to show how vast the amazon is, but also how difficult it is to navigate and ultimately, also how difficult it will be for lula to achieve his zero deforestation by 2030. which is why he needs the backing of all of the countries that share the amazon. leaders are expected to offer solutions to illegal logging and mining, moving away from big infrastructure projects and trying to provide basic services to those most in need. money talks, and without offering a better life for those who live in the forest, any discussion of conservation is pointless. katie watson, bbc news in para. let's hearfrom michael sheldrick — from the organisation global citizen — which campaigns on environmental and poverty issues. this is such a monumental task for the leaders who have gathered here at the summit and certainly for president dasilva because people do take to his leadership on this. thanks for having it on the programme that i think you're right. president has charted a course for illegal deforestation here in brazil and he is a summit to bring the countries together and we have to chart a course to do this to avoid the tipping point in the amazon in the tipping point in the amazon in the message i been hearing from this extraordinary dialogue that the activists of government and extraordinary philanthropy is that we cannot do this without offering a pathway out of poverty and vulnerability for the more than 30 million people who live between the trees in the land here in the amazon. we cannot be the ones saying stop producing fossil fuels and stop illegal for stop producing fossil fuels and stop illegalfor a stop producing fossil fuels and stop illegal for a station stop producing fossil fuels and stop illegalfor a station and stop producing fossil fuels and stop illegal for a station and without those incentives and without that road map. those incentives and without that road ma -. , , ., those incentives and without that roadma. , . ., , road map. there is so much money in the industries — road map. there is so much money in the industries who _ road map. there is so much money in the industries who are _ the industries who are exploiting the industries who are exploiting the amazon. are they willing to step away from that? because this is a dangerous and uphill task to try to stop them. i dangerous and uphill task to try to sto them. . ., ., ., stop them. i heard a lot about carbon credits _ stop them. i heard a lot about carbon credits and _ stop them. i heard a lot about carbon credits and a _ stop them. i heard a lot about carbon credits and a lot - stop them. i heard a lot about carbon credits and a lot about| carbon credits and a lot about carbon credits and a lot about carbon markets but the reality is, how do you actually get the money into the hands of those are the guardians and protectors were actually doing the work to provide this global public benefit we need clear rules of the road and standards endorsed by government to ensure that there is regulation we need to put out the carbon cowboys and ensure that the money can go. the carbon market with proper regulation and incentives in proper structure can be a source to lift these communities out of poverty and also protect the amazon.— also protect the amazon. there is the will here _ also protect the amazon. there is the will here because _ also protect the amazon. there is the will here because the - also protect the amazon. there is the will here because the summit| also protect the amazon. there is - the will here because the summit has been held in me of a moment to about where brazil was in terms of its approach to climate change, it is a win shift here. and it's about implementation —— 180. it's notjust about having the summit and it's about having the summit and it's about making it happen. satellite imaue about making it happen. satellite imagery revealed _ about making it happen. satellite imagery revealed that _ about making it happen. satellite i imagery revealed that deforestation has been reduced to about 66% in the brazilian amazon. president lula is leading the way in implementing the change but the challenges that we bring all countries together, not just in the amazon where there is taking place in indonesia, the democratic republic of the congo representative of which were invited here. the point is, we are moving far too slowly and not supporting with the right incentives to communities that actually live in the amazon given the united kingdom taxpayers there, we need to keep our promises as well. this is a global benefit. ~ ., , promises as well. this is a global benefit. ~ ,. ,, ., ., . ., benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? _ benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? will _ benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? will be _ benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? will be a _ benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? will be a set - benefit. was discussed how to create those incentives? will be a set time | those incentives? will be a set time and time again _ those incentives? will be a set time and time again is _ those incentives? will be a set time and time again is that _ those incentives? will be a set time and time again is that communities| and time again is that communities here in the amazon, were just now finding opportunities to develop, they stand ready to protect the amazon. the message is that you cannot ask us to take action on climate change to save nature without also having an economic livelihood. living in poverty so the rest of us can enjoy the beauty of the amazon is not the answer. we need to find an answer to both and thatis need to find an answer to both and that is where companies who made these net zero pledges, they should be contributing making sure they're contributing to the right way to ensure that the benefits are there and we are appealing to them to embrace the right standards for companies to be responsible and how they approach communities on the ground. they approach communities on the round. ., ~' ,, they approach communities on the round. ., ~ i. they approach communities on the round. ., ~ . ., ground. thank you so much for “oininu ground. thank you so much for joining us- _ let's turn to the major political emergency unfolding in west africa — following the military coup in niger. the regional bloc ecowas has said — it wants a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the takeover — but that no options are off the table. diplomatic efforts to find a resolution have stepped up — with a warning from washington. speaking to the bbc — the us secretary of state — antony blinken — has voiced his concern that niger's military leaders, might turn to the russian mercenary group — wagner — for help. the group is active in neighbouring countries — they're seen here in the central african republic — last month — and wagner's leader has welcomed the takeover. the coup leaders, are currently standing firm against calls to restore democratic rule. here's what mr blinken had to say — about wagner — a little earlier: for sure we have concerns when we see something like the wagner group possibly manifesting itself in different parts of the sahel. and here is why we are concerned. because every single place that this group, wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed. insecurity has gone up, not down. it has not been a response to the needs of the countries in question for greater security. i think what happened and what continues to happen in niger was not instigated by russia or by wagner but to the extent that they try to take advantage of it and we see a repeat of what has happened in other countries where they've brought nothing but bad things in their wake, that wouldn't be good. the wagner leader — yevgeny prigozhin — has released an audio message referring to the coup in niger. the recording emerged on telegram, though the date and location can't be independently verified. mr prigozhin had this message — apparently — for the coup leaders: translation: we are always on the side of goodness, - justice and on the side of those who fight for sovereignty and for the rights of their people. call us anytime. let's hear from west africa analyst, paul ejime. we just heard from jeff kinney for goshen. —— yevgeny prigozhin. -- yevgeny prigozhin. and the countries _ -- yevgeny prigozhin. and the countries under _ -- yevgeny prigozhin. and the countries under military - -- yevgeny prigozhin. and the countries under military rule. | -- yevgeny prigozhin. and the - countries under military rule. how he does that perhaps, in the sense that other areas have embraced russia, they also, wagner group is active there. there have, perhaps there inviting them but it is not clear. ., , ., . there inviting them but it is not clear. ., ., . ., there inviting them but it is not clear. ., , ., . ., ~ clear. how problematic do you think it is that ecowas _ clear. how problematic do you think it is that ecowas put _ clear. how problematic do you think it is that ecowas put this _ clear. how problematic do you think it is that ecowas put this deadline | it is that ecowas put this deadline at seven days that came and went in the call was the regional block was reinstated the president of this and bring democracy back to her house and we did not know what the orioles was —— niger. —— or else was. the and we did not know what the orioles was -- niger. -- or else was. the un and the eu. — was -- niger. -- or else was. the un and the eu. and _ was -- niger. -- or else was. the un and the eu, and russia _ was -- niger. -- or else was. the un and the eu, and russia and _ was -- niger. -- or else was. the un and the eu, and russia and france i and the eu, and russia and france and the eu, and russia and france and colonial power there. it was a frenzy at that moment of outrage that ecowas, i talked to and i realise that it was precipitated action and pull—back to give them diplomacy and the leaders are beginning and there was a diplomatic message that ecowas in the eu in the un were leading a joint mission on wednesday but, they said they would not have any of that.— not have any of that. gives to a sense of how — not have any of that. gives to a sense of how much _ not have any of that. gives to a - sense of how much the relationships of broken down because they were happy to have the leader of chad there and took calls from molly, but ecowas are more suspicious of. i do believe this will end?— believe this will end? ecowas is been there _ believe this will end? ecowas is been there before _ believe this will end? ecowas is been there before and _ believe this will end? ecowas is been there before and they - believe this will end? ecowas is. been there before and they are no strangers to cool but ecowas appears to have dropped the ball some years ago and allowing soldiers to take power and now, they want to stop it and this is very complex, if you bring them, the countries appear to be bonding together to fight and invasion. that is why ecowas is now saying we were able to stop the war in liberia and syria and it's not a bad strategy that they been using that have allowed and again, because of the fact that they some of them, they been turning up political coup and rigging collection, corruption in the not actually leading in a bank that is what is giving them the and and sensing the population and they're trying to cash in on that. fascinating to hear your thoughts on this and thank you very much for joining us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. nhs flu jabs and covid boosters, will be scrapped for under—65s this winter. 12 million people aged 50 to 64 who were eligible during the pandemic — can no longer get the free jabs. the rollout of boosters, is expected to start in october, a full month later than usual. a man has been arrested, after a stabbing — close to the british museum. the metropoliton police stress the incident is not terror related — with "no outstanding risk to the public". the man — who was stabbed in the arm — has been taken to hospital. civil servants in the scottish government, spent tens of thousands of taxpayers' money, including nearly 10 thousand pounds, on vip airport services. formerfirst minister nicola sturgeon, and her staff — were given fast—track security and access to lounges at airports. the current first minister — humza yousaf — has ordered a review to ensure spending guidelines are sufficiently "robust." you're live with bbc news. the chair of the un's climate change panel has described july's record global temperatures as extraordinary. one of the countries that experienced extreme heat and forest fires last month was portugal. and august has seen no let up, fires, like these shown here, are raging in the centre and south of the country, and monday saw the hottest temperature of the year, 46—point—1t degrees celsius, in santar m, north of the capital lisbon. straight to lisbon — our correspondent alison roberts is there. the temperatures are increasing in recent firefighters out there pretty good hundreds of places. portugal is not where the countries that was worst affected last month but if you cheat with. the worst affected last month but if you cheat with. ., , worst affected last month but if you cheat with. . , ._ , cheat with. the last few days, temperatures _ cheat with. the last few days, temperatures of _ cheat with. the last few days, temperatures of sword - cheat with. the last few days, temperatures of sword and i cheat with. the last few days, i temperatures of sword and along cheat with. the last few days, - temperatures of sword and along with the effects of months of drought, thatis the effects of months of drought, that is greatly increased the risk of fire and almost left the country is at maximum risk of fire at the moment and that is not likely to decrease greatly and it's down to the southwest of the country in the municipality that fire is blazing but is of most concerned with about a thousand firefighters in action there today and fire chief said that although they think the fire perimeter is under control now, having worked very hard overnight, there are critical points they could to consider break—outs in any time. and while we are in wildfires season and last month, portugal was an impact of x on the other places, greece and italy, we are seeing evacuations taking place in portugal. evacuations taking place in portugal-— evacuations taking place in portu~al. �* ., ., , ., portugal. and although there is an area where — portugal. and although there is an area where it _ portugal. and although there is an area where it is _ portugal. and although there is an area where it is not _ portugal. and although there is an area where it is not to _ portugal. and although there is an area where it is not to be - portugal. and although there is an area where it is not to be the i area where it is not to be the centre of tourism, that's for the region, it is an area seeing more seeing more and more tourists visiting and among the people, the 1400 visiting and among the people, the 1li00 people who are removed from the area yesterday, some of those were torturous and leading to one tourism centred accommodation unit was affected directly by the fires and part of it was burned down, affecting not only locals but tourists there.— tourists there. and you 'ust mentionedfi tourists there. and you 'ust mentioned the i tourists there. and you 'ust mentioned the area i tourists there. and you just mentioned the area there. | tourists there. and you just i mentioned the area there. very popular tourist destination and while the fires are necessarily around there, it is edging closer. you would remember that there were fires in the municipality and taking the beaches and enough to affect the area in terms of smoke coming over and here in lisbon, we have seen traces of smoke coming over from fires millions of kilometres away and parts the country and showing the brick clearly on satellite images that we have seen again at that fire in the southwest and the smoke is spreading over very large areas now. ., ~' smoke is spreading over very large areas now-— areas now. thank you so much for brinuain areas now. thank you so much for bringing this _ areas now. thank you so much for bringing this tip — areas now. thank you so much for bringing this up to _ areas now. thank you so much for bringing this up to date _ areas now. thank you so much for bringing this up to date there. i let's turn to the war ukraine now — where russian missile strikes continue to strike the east — and ukraine's counter—offensive grinds on. at least seven people have been killed in a russian missile attack on the eastern town of pok—rovsk. dozens of others were injured. the head of the donetsk region said a hotel, shops and office buildings were damaged. 0ur ukraine correspondent — james waterhouse — gave us more details of the attack — and the town where it happened: rescue efforts are continuing today and paused overnight because the risk of shelling and one of many front line towns were after the population was hollowed out in the full—scale invasion, people in the thousands of the returning to places like pokrovsk despite the real dangers. people since they way despite real danger in buildings scattered about and we have seen this for a while in the area where you have hotels and my themed corleone restaurant. me and countless otherjournalists corleone restaurant. me and countless other journalists and civilians and soldiers, that's where you go and stay indeed needed place places like this. not much in the way of choice and people there are very friendly. it is a city that learn to cope in the data live despite being around 20 miles from the front line of the reality is when you're that close to the front line, your within range of more russian weaponry like missiles, artillery fire. the risks really do go artillery fire. the risks really do 9° up artillery fire. the risks really do go up and russia targeted because of soldiers go through that but this is nevertheless the significant location and here we are again with the site of rescue teams through the rubble and trying to find today can and so many of the injured or made up and so many of the injured or made up of police officers and reflects the strengths occurring within a0 minutes of the children suggests a double tap or receive russian forces double tap or receive russian forces do this before but any of the specific area in the lead rescue teams come in and then they hit it again in a very deliberate act. the uk electoral commission, has revealed its been the subject of a complex cyber attack. the independent watchdog, which sets standards for how elections should be run, says �*hostile actors' were able to access electoral registers, in 2021 and 2022. it's warned the public to be �*vigilant for unauthorised use or release of their personal data.�* this report from our technology correspondent — joe tidy. it has been a busy couple of years for the electoral commission with many by—elections and hackers have been overseeing them. for at least 1a months cyber—attacker had access to the system's internal commissions and e—mails were compromised. it is the sort of scenario the cyber security world has feared. but the commission says no votes were affected. electoral data has not been destroyed or amended and in elections there are separate systems and we can be confident that the process of elections has not and been affected by this attack. the news will swell the ranks of supporters for the manual system, pen and paper cannot be attacked it is often said. the commission said data accessed by hackers is largely already in the public domain and experts think the nature of the attack is it is likely to be espionage. there is not much money for whoever perpetrated it, we know some states, particularly russia, have in the past been accused of trying to interfere in elections both in the uk and the united states. the kremlin has long denied hacking and leaking hillary clinton's e—mails and there have been evidence of influence campaigns on the british public. but it is hard to pin down the impacts of these tactics. but this is a sobering reminder of what is at stake in the world of information security. now to some breaking news from south africa. five people including a a0—year—old british national have died in violent protests related to the taxi strike in cape town. this comes after a week—long strike was called by the south african national taxi council, santaco. the strike was in response to what the drivers called "heavy—handed tactics" by law enforcement authorities. the uk issued a travel warning after the strike was listed as a high security threat for uk tourists visiting south africa. will be back in the next few minutes with all the latest headlines and did not go anywhere. do not go anywhere. hello there. there have certainly been winners and losers with this tuesday's forecast. an absolutely glorious day. across much of scotland, northern ireland and northern england. there were a few sharp showers in the northeast, but look at the western isles, beautiful from earlier on, slightly different story further south across england and wales in particular. there was quite a lot of low cloud and outbreaks of drizzly rain. it was misty as well through the day, and that is going to continue to drift its way steadily eastwards over the next few hours. the showers fading in scotland. we keep some clearer skies through the night. we keep quite a lot of low clouds down to the southwest. but temperatures will hold up perhaps into the mid—teens by first thing tomorrow morning. the reason being, we're starting to tap into some warmer air now as an area of high pressure is set to build. so this high pressure will move in from the southwest. yes, we've got this week weather front, which will always introduce the risk of more cloud and still some murky conditions to northern ireland, perhaps across west facing coasts of wales, south west england. again, misty, maybe a little bit drizzly from time to time. so further north and east, that's where we'll see the best of the sunshine. but temperatures generally will be a few degrees up on where we've seen them just recently, highs into the low twenties, but some of us could see temperatures into the mid twenties as the mid seventies. fahrenheit will tap into some further heat from spain as we move into thursday. thursday looks likely to be the warmest day of the week and the sunniest today quite widely across the country. it's not going to last, but those temperatures, mid twenties, possibly as high as 27 degrees. so that's 80 fahrenheit. but as we move out of thursday into friday, this cold front will start to push in. it's tied into this area of low pressure which is sitting to the far northwest. the winds will strengthen and it will bring outbreaks of rain, some of it heavy as it moves its way across northern england and scotland. it turns quite showery in nature through central and southern parts of england and wales and ahead of it, if we maintain some early morning sunshine, it'll still be quite warm here, but noticeably fresher behind. and then as we head into the weekend, unfortunately that cooler, fresher shower regime is set to continue with temperatures back into the low twenties as a daytime maximum. that's it. take care. this is bbc news, the headlines. trying to rescue the rainforest — south american leaders meet to come up with a plan to save the amazon. ahead of a referendum on abortion — 0hio residents vote on proposals to make it harder to change the state's constitution. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan is barred from holding public office for five years. saying farewell to one of ireland's favourite daughters — thousands turn out for the funeral of the singer sinead o'connor. and we're live from the fringe in edinburgh where comedians and theatrical performers have gathered for the festival 5 76th year. the former pakistani prime minister imran khan has been disqualified from politics for five years after receiving a prison sentence for corruption. the ruling means